WSM Radio 650 Nashville, Tennessee Photos from the John in Arizona Collection
All photos are the property of John Johnson / John In Arizona / johninarizona.com and may not be used in any form elsewhere.
WSM: WSM Nashville started in 1925. The call letters reflect the first owner, National Life and Accident Insurance Company's slogan "We Shield Millions." The main WSM studios are located on Music Valley Drive near the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. WSM also has studios inside the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. A historical display of WSM is featured along the wall next to those studios.
The WSM transmitter and tower are located south of Nashville in Brentwood. The site is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a sign explaining some of the history. The FCC antenna structure identification sign is on the gate to the transmitter building. The WSM transmitter building was once the studios. Note the smaller tower to the left is an auxiliary antenna. The main WSM tower is one of the five remaining Blaw-Knox towers left in the United States. The diamond-shaped tower is reflected in WSM advertising. The tower built by Blaw-Knox Steel Company of Pittsburgh was originally 878 feet. Engineers noticed a problem with the signal cancelling out in some reception areas and in 1939 it was shortened to 808 feet.
WSM 650 Nashville studios on Music Valley Drive - 2012.
WSM 650 Nashville studios on Music Valley Drive - 2012.
WSM 650 Nashville station vehicle - 2012.
WSM 650 Nashville station vehicle - 2011.
WSM 650 studios in the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center - 2011.
WSM 650 studios in the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center - 2011.
WSM 650 Nashville historical sign at tower site - 2011.
WSM 650 Nashville tower registration sign - 2011.
WSM 650 transmitter building on Concord Road in Brentwood - 2011.
WSM 650 transmitter building on Concord Road in Brentwood - 2012.
WSM 650 tower on Concord Road in Brentwood - 2011.
WSM Radio 650 Nashville antenna top - 2012.
WSM 650 tower mid-point - 2011.
WSM 650 tower base - 2012.
WSM 650 auxiliary antenna - 2012.
Images are the property of John C. Johnson / John In Arizona / johninarizona.com and may not be used in any form elsewhere including social media sites. All rights reserved.